(Eagle News) — Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog on Monday welcomed the appointment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido in his city, even as he insisted that the local government was already exerting a lot of effort in ridding the city of drugs.
In a radio interview, Mabilog, who was included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of narcopoliticians, said Espenido’s appointment was “a good venue for us to really see kung ano ang nangyayari sa Iloilo.”
“I really have a strong faith and I know the truth will come out,” he said, insisting that he was never involved in illegal drug activities, nor was he ever a coddler of drug lords.
He said he doesn’t know why his name was included in the President’s list, and that he was actually trying to find a way to meet him.
“Isang ordinaryong mayor lang ako dito,” he said.
In Iloilo, Mabilog said that while there were drugs, the city government already intensified its campaign against the illegal substances since last year.
In fact, he said 376 operations have been launched against illegal drugs and he “never intervened.”
He said 3180 individuals have been subjected to Oplan Tokhang.
“Meron kaming Tokhang Reboot, na yung mga hindi nagsurrender ay bininigyan ng pagkakataon na sumuko para pumasok sa rehab,” he added.
He said the city government also put up treatment and rehabilitation programs.
He said around 1200 have already undergone treatment.
“Yung mga personalities (na sangkot sa illegal drugs sa Iloilo) ay nagbibigay kami ng P1 million sa kanilang ulo para mahuli sila,” he added.
Earlier, Mabilog declared that his city was already “drug-free.”
He made the announcement after Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, who was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities, was killed in a raid led by Espenido himself.
Espenido was also the police chief when Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in his jail cell, where he was detained for drug charges, among others.
